Method and means for transferring sheets



z- 9- I B. B. PASQUINELLI 2,478,053

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SHEETS Filed March 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. -5runo B. Pasg /he/fl' BY 1949- B. B. PASQUINELLI 2,478,053

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SHEETS Filed March 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Bruno 15. Pasqu/ne/h' Aug" 2, 1949. B. B. PASQUINELLI 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 5, 1948 mg 2, 1949. B. B. PASQUINELLI 2,478,053

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SHEETS Filed March 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Bruno B. Pasga/ne/h' BY wag. Z, 1949. B. B. PASQUiNELLl 2,478,053

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SHEETS Filed March 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Bruno 5. Pasgu/ne/fi BY B. B. PASQUINELLI METHOD AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SHEETS Aug. 2, 1949..

6 Sheets-Shee't 6 Filed March 5, 1948 mv 1-4-J x v ilii 1111-1-111 i iiw lil i 111:1. I mu 6 o o 0 tc G GP? EIEIEL t: EIE EIE 5 GP EL I I I I I I I I I? 0v Ev INVENTOR. Bruno B. Pasqu/nel/f Aug. 2, 1949 NITED sirres Bruno B. Pa sguinelli, Chicago, 111., assigngij, t9 Miehle Printing. Press & Manuiacturing Gog}:

m y, flhi oi h qo rcrei qeo i i. is

A li ant Mae 5, ..$eia1 .34243. Ill-Claims. (Cl 271- 82.)

1, This invention relates toa method and means whereby sheets are transferred frornf'a sheet carrying member such as an impression cylinder of a printing press to a sheet delivery mechanism, preferably of the endless chaintype More specifically the invention pertains to a constant speed chain delivery and "contemplates the control of sheets during their transfer from an impression cylinder 'of' a 'flat bed printing press to an endless chain conveyor, which cylinder has bodily movement from its operative or printing position to its inoperative 01f tripped position and vice versa.

In certain types of cylinder flat bed pressesit is required to transfer the printed sheets irorn the impression cylinder to the delivery conveyor, such as an endless chain, when the cylinder is in either one of its positions, that is to say, when the cylinder is in its printing position as well as when it'i-s in its tripped or non 'printing posit ion.

Many complications presented themselves'i'n the attempt to develop a method and means for transferring sheets to a chain delivery from 'a cylindrical member which assumes two difierent positions with relation to such delivery, one being tangent thereto or substantially so, while the other position is spaced away from the deliverya distance equal to the bodily displacement ofthe memherv It has heretofore been suggested to arrange. the

delivery mechanism so that the entire conveyor at the sheet transfer station will moveup; and down to follow the motion of the sheet carrying i pression cylinder. .Such arr n ements hav proven quite practical and satisfactory when applied to presses of small size where it c ices notl in l e t e mo in o an avy Pa s.

However, when larger presses are involved, the problem becomes increasingly more difficult because of the greater weight that has to be lifted by the cylinder raisin'girneans. This results in of the sheets while being transferredis impaired to such an extent that sheets are frequently lost, that is'to say, the sheet gripper-sot the endless delivery conveyor fail to properly engage the sheets upon release by the cylinder grippers, resulting in loss of time and consequent reduced production.

Furthermore, in order to prevent a sheet from clinging to the cylinder after being released by t ounder ppers, ifl'hes qen e ent an. ms r when h w a a heet between the m t 2. tofore to provide a series of what are. known-1n the artas shoo-flynfingersl. which, function to lift the. leading "edge of a sheet .durirlgitsre: moval from the cylinder. The necessitymf such devices is avoided bythe novel. means which constitute my invention.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide "a noVeI- 'metli dand means. whereby printed sheets may. betransferre'dfrom i an im- ;sre sicn e mider'oi 'tlie l-ik'e' member-tofanendless: conveyor; either whengthecylinder is down on impression, or whenf it" is "raised; i. 'e. trip f of: IhPres 19 Anothersalient object of the invention resides in the provision oi novermea ns whefldyftfie sheets are controlled during he 'transier'gperiod from the impressipn fqil nd er the'endless' Yeyorfl 1.? t used torftifansferr' impression member "to achain deliv anism.

u th r o ct the. ive tien th provision er means "was y saying" h' etween the, driving. cylind chain delivery gear the. i fe t i pression, sti l furthest; est 9; 2. 9 miser es. as. in the provision of an improved sh' over by the deliverygrippers, to e I t tail end i t e sheeti bm leie rftree of theimpression cylinder.

Another objectv of. the inven ion i to. roxie a mechanism which is simple in constructionand economical to manufacture. 1

Still further. objects. 011 the. invention will become apparent from the. following, description and appended claims-.takenin con-junction wit the. accompanyingdrawings. in; which- I have illustrated byway otexample-a preierredembodiment of invention,

'In thedrawingsb Figure 1 is a side elevational.viewtshowing part of a flat bedprinting press andassflciated chain deli-very mechanism to which my. invention is applied by wayofexample;

" F-iguifejz is an enlarged partial. View; of Figure 1, ilri s'trating more. clearly-the. arrangement of an adjustable sheet support provided at the sheet receiving end of the delivery mechanism;

Figure 3 represents an enlarged view in side elevation of the cylinder gear and the chain delivery gear driven by it and showing the cylinder in its tripped or raised position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the cylinder in its lowered or impression position;

Figure 5 is a View, partly in section, showing the impression cylinder in its tripped position, and also illustrating the cam means for opening and ClOSing the chain delivery grippers;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the position of the impression cylinder when it is down on impression; 7

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged views, depicting the relative position of the cooperating sheet grippers and pads as shown in Figures 5 and 6 respectively;

' Figures 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views showing the various positions of the grippers and their associated pads which they assume at the beginning, intermediate, and at the end of the sheet transfer operation, when the cylinder is .on impression;

Figure 12 illustrates diagrammatically the relative position of the cylinder grippers and pads, to

the delivery chain grippers and associated pads during the transfer of a sheet when the impression cylinder is on impression, and illustrating how the gripper edge of the sheet is flexed between the gripper fingers midway in the transfer operation;

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are similar views to Figures 9, 10 and 11, but showing the impression cylinder in its tripped position;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 12 but showing how the gripper edge of a sheet is flexed between the cylinder gripper pads and the chain delivery gripper pads midway in the transfer operation and when the impression cylinder is in the introduction of my invention are:

A generally improved performance over sheet delivery devices used heretofore and. the ability of transferring sheets from an impression cylinder either when it is on impression or when it is tripped;

The elimination of many conventional operat- --ing parts such as shoo-fly fingers and the like ;sheet controlling elements;

Reduction to a minimum of shocks at the point of sheet transfer, the chain delivery sprockets being supported in fixed bearings;

No backlash between the driving cylinder gear and the driven chain delivery gear;

The delivery chain travels at a constant speed, while the actual speed at which the sheets are delivered is lower than that at the transfer point between the cylinder and the chain conveyor.

- 7 Referring now to the drawings which disclose one preferred embodiment of my invention, and as applied to fiat bed cylinder presses, the impression cylinder ill, see Figure 1, is mounted in the frame H of a flat bed press in any conventional manner, such as in bearings l2 which can be raised and lowered in order to bring the cylinder from its printing to its tripped position and vice versa. The cylinder is provided with a series of grippers 13 to which sheets are fed either by 1 hand or automatically, according to methods well known in the art of printing equipment, and each sheet is held to the cylinder by these grippers while it receives the impression.

After an impression has been made, the printed sheet is transferred to the delivery grippers [4 which are mounted in series on a shaft l5, and in spaced relation to the impression cylinder grippers IS. The gripper shaft in turn is suitably journalled at each end in the endless chains l6 which are provided at each side of the press. The chains [6 are driven by the sprockets l8, rigidly mounted on a. drive shaft 19 which in turn is suitably journalled in the side frames 20 of the conveyor. The sprockets l8 are driven in any convenient manner such as by gears which mesh with the cylinder gear, and, as will be understood,v a pair of idler sprockets are provided at the other end of the conveyor 20 to support the chains 16 at that point.

Preferably at one end of the gripper shaft I5 and rigidly mounted thereon is the lever 2| having attached at its free end the cam follower 22. Arranged to intercept the follower 22 and thereby open the grippers [4 by action of the lever 2| and shaft I5, is the stationary or fixed cam 23,, said cam being fixed to the conveyor frame.

In order to deliver the printed sheets at the slowest possible speed and thus insure more accurate depositing of the sheets onto the pile, the linear speed of the chain conveyor is maintained constant and substantially less than the peripheral speed of the impression cylinder Ill. However, the delivery gripper fingers and pads are accelerated to the speed of the impression cylinder at the point of transfer and then, after leaving the sprockets l8, said fingers and pads are again decelerated to the linear speed of the chains until after the sheet has been released onto the pile.

This variation in speed of these grippers is brought about by the difference in radius in which the grippers and associated pads travel, as compared with the pitch line of the sprockets l8. The deceleration of the delivery grippers [4, while the impression cylinder I0 maintains a constant speed, creates a certain amount of slack in the sheet until it is completely separated from the cylinder.

In delivery mechanisms of this type, there is a tendency for the trailing portion of the sheet to cling to the impression cylinder after the leading edge has been transferred and before the delivery mechanism can eliminate the slack in the sheet. Heretofore, it has been customary to use what is commonly known in the art as shoofly fingers for the purpose of stripping the trailing part of the sheet from the cylinder. While this method has proven quite satisfactory at low speeds, the mechanism involved for operating 'such means is expensive and complicated as well it leaves the cylinder, is shaped to provide a continuation of the stripping blade 24 and extends across the entire width of the conveyor to fully support the' released"sheet! The rear" edge' of this guard is rockably mounted on the shaft 26, said shaft being journalled in the boss 21 oi the frame at each side of the conveyor.- The free end of the guard 25 is supported by a connecting rod 28 which in turn is connected to a hand crank or lever 29. Asshown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, the guard 25 can be adjusted by means of the hand crank 29 in two positions, the purpose of this is to render the form rollers, typefor'mandimpression cylinder of'the press readily accessible for inspection and adjustments."

Thesprockets l8, andthereby thechains lfi of thehelivery mechanism aredriven by means of theiio'a'ting or anti-backlash gear 30 asshown-in' Figures 3 and 4. This gear consists of two se'ctioii's, one of which is'the drive section 3I and the other thefloating section 32. The'drive se'ction' is rigidly mounted on the shaft l9 while the floating section is rotatable thereon, the two sections bein-g held in their relative positions'by the studs 33 which are rigid in the drive section 3|, but areslidably inserted through the slots 34 in the floating section 32. This arrangement allows for the floating section 32 to turn a limited degree on the shaft l9 independently of the drive section3l.

When the impression cylinder Ill is in -its tripped or inoperative position, as shown in Figure '3, the anti-backlash gear 30 meshes normally with the drive gear 35. However, when the'impres'sion cylinder is in its lowered or printing position-the teeth of the gears 30 and 35 are separated-as shown in Figure 4, which ordinarily would incur excessive backlash or play.

To compensate for the clearance causedby the separation of the gear teeth, the pressureof the compression spring 36 acting between the pmjection 37 of the drive section 3t and the end of the rod 38 which is pivotally attached to the floating section 32, tends to move the floating section 32 in a counterclockwise direction. This action causes the teeth of section 32' to exert pressure against the rear face of the teeth on gear 35, forcing the teeth on section 3| to maintain their relative position against the front face of the teeth on gear 35 and having the same effect asadvancing the cylinder with respect to the delivery which is necessary to keep the delivery grippests in proper position with respect to the impression cylinder grippers to effect an efficient transfer of the sheet.

During the actual transfer of the sheet from the impression cylinder grippers l3 to the delivery grippers M, the gripper edge of the sheet is flexed between said grippers, see Figure 12, while the sheet travels a short distance, approximately through the angle A, see Figures 9 to 12, during which time neither the cylinder grippers l3 nor the delivery grippers i l actually hold the sheet, but provide sufiicient control to effect the transfer from the cylinder Hi to'the chain conveyor iii." The sheet is controlled while travelling through the transfer zone or angle A 'by the cylinder grippers l3 and the delivery grippers 14 v/hen'the cylinder Bil is in its printing position, see Figure 12, and by the cylinder gripper pads 33 and delivery gripper pads 40, when the cylinder is'in its tripped position, see Figure 16-. The enlarged diagrammatic view Figure 7 illustrates clearly how the delivery gripper pads 40 extend within the periphery of the impression cylinder when saideylihder is tripped, while Figure 8 indicates'the position of the cyliridergrippersfl arid tlie deliverygrippers 14* during thetraris'fer 75-.

6. of'a sheet when the impressi'on cylinder: is down in 'its printing position.

.To clearly explain the-path of a sheet-during its'tra'vel'through the transferzone' or angle -A when the cylinder I0 is on impression, I will refer more specifically toiFi'gii'resQQlO, 11 and 12." In Figure the sheet 4|: is shown when entering the transfer 'zone and whilestill in the-bite of the cylinder grippers l3. The delivery grippers I 4 are already opened and to a degree that they extend within the periphery of the impression cylinder. As the cylinder I0 continues to rotate the cylin'der grippers l3 release the leading edge of the sheet as the delivery grippers [4 rise under the leading edge causin .it to be flexed between the cylinder grippers l3 and the delivery grippers I4, as shown in Figures 10 and 12. The two sets of grippers maintain the leading edge of the sheet inthis flexed condition until the delivery grippers I4 close on thesheet at which time the cylinder-grippers are fully opened and are about to move away from the sheet, see Figure 11. Flexing the gripper edge of the sheet in this mannerprovides suihcient tension to control the sheet in order to carry it through the transfer zone.

Transfer of the sheet when the cylinder I9 is tripped is quite similar to the steps followed when the cylinder is in its printing position; with the exception that the sheet is flexed between the gripper pads instead of the grippers. Figure 13 shows the sheet about to enter the transfer zone and while still in the bite of the cylinder grippers 13. As the cylinder [9 continues to rotate, the-grippersl3 release the sheet and the delivery gripper pads 40 beg-in to depress the leading edge, thus flexing the sheet between the cylinder gripper pads 39 and the deliverygripper pads 49 as shown in-Figures di and-16 Thesheet it remains in thisflexed condition-until the delivery grippers close on it as shown inFigure 15.

Although my invention can be used on a single or multi-color press with equal efficiency, it is more valuable in connection with a multi-color press since on this type of press the sheet is always transferred to the delivery mechanism while thecylinder'i's in its printing position, unless for some cause'the cylinder is tripped.

For this reason, I will explain the operation of my invention with respect to a two-color press as shown in Figure 17. In this illustration a sheet '4l' is in the process of being transferred to the grippers l l of the delivery mechanism while the impression cylinder in isstill'do'wn in its printing position, having risen only a sufiicien' t amount to clear the inkfldistributingtable AZi Theleadin'g edge of the succeeding sheet as has been transferred from the first cylinder 44 to the transfer cylinder45- which' will make approxiii-lately one revolution and a half before transferring'the sheet '43 to the 'second cylinder le,

which by thattime will have" delivered sheet 4| t0 thechainconveyo'r l6. Thety'p'ebed or form 46- isshown at the end of itsimpression stroke with the form rollers 4'. in contact with the ink table '42. The" form is supportedon the press frame 48- inany' approved manner, such as by means ofthe slider carriage rollers d9.

Meanwhile the chainconveyor has continued its-"rotation around the sprockets l 8- causing the cam-follower 22 to engage cam 23 moving lever 2! to thus open thedelivery grippers Hi. When fully opened; saidgrippers extend within the periphery of I the -impressioh cylinder. I Asthe impression cylind'er-:igrippers :13 'anddelivery grippers EM .pa'ss througii the A transfen area; they: foilow a path substantially as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 with the delivery grippers is rising under the leading or gripper edge of the sheet M as they begin to close and the cylinder grippers begin to open.

While I have disclosed herein a preferred embodiment of my invention and merely by way of example, it shall be understood that many modifications in the design and in the arrangement of parts may be introduced without departing from the principle involved, therefore, I aim to cover any such departures that will come within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the method of transferring sheets from a printing cylinder to an endless sheet conveyor, both of which having a series of cooperating sheet gripping elements associated therewith, the steps of releasing a sheet by the gripping elements of said cylinder to an extent that contact with the gripper edge of the sheet is maintained, bringing the sheet gripping elements on said conveyor into contact with the gripper edge of the sheet in a manner that said edge will be fiexed between said series of elements to control the sheet, maintaining this flexed condition during the entire period of transfer, and causing the gripping elements of said conveyor to hold the sheet and deliver it.

2. In the procedure of transferring sheets from a printing cylinder to a delivery mechanism, both of which being equipped with a series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating supports, and which cylinder has bodily movement from its operative to an inoperative position, the novel method of controlling the sheets during their transfer from said cylinder when in its operative position, comprising the steps of releasing a sheet by the gripper fingers on said cylinder to an extent that contact of said fingers is maintained with the gripper edge of the sheet, bringing the gripper fingers on the delivery mechanism into Contact with the leading edge of a sheet in a manner that said edge will be flexed between said series of gripper fingers of said cylinder and of said mechanism to control the sheet, maintaining this flexed condition during the entire period of transfer, and closing the series of gripper fingers and cooperating supports of said mechanism to hold the sheet and deliver it.

3. In the procedure of transferring sheets from a printing cylinder to a, delivery mechanism, both of which being equipped with a series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating supports, and which cylinder has bodily movement from its operative to an inoperative position, the novel method of controlling the sheets during their transfer from said cylinder when in its inoperative position, comprising the steps of releasing a sheet by the series of gripper fingers on said cylinder to an extent that the supports associated therewith remain in contact with the gripper edge of the sheet, bringing the series of gripper finger supports of said mechanism into contact with the leading edge of the sheet in a manner that said edge will be flexed between said series of supports to control the sheet, maintaining this flexed condition during the entire period of transfer, and closing the series of gripper fingers and cooperating supports of said delivery mechanism to hold the sheet and deliver it.

4. In sheet transfer mechanism, the combination of a sheet carrier having bodily movement from its operative to an inoperative position, a sheet delivery mechanism having a fixed posi-,

tion in which to receive sheets from said carrier when the latter is in its operative as well as when in its inoperative position, and means for flexing the gripper edge of the sheets to control them during the transfer period from said carrier to the delivery mechanism and while said carrier is in either one of said positions.

5. In sheet transfer mechanism, the combination of a sheet carrying printing cylinder having bodily movement from its printing position to its non-printing position, sheet delivery mechanism having a fixed position in which to receive sheets from said cylinder, and means on said cylinder and on said mechanism including series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating gripper pads, operative to flex the gripper edge of a sheet between said gripper fingers after the sheet is released from said cylinder and during its transfer to the delivery mechanism, to thereby control the sheet during the period of its transfer when the sheet carrying cylinder is in its printing position.

6. In sheet transfer mechanism, the combination of a sheet carrying printing cylinder having bodily movement from its printing position to its non-printing position, sheet delivery mechanism having a fixed position in which to receive sheets from said cylinder, a series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating pads on said cylinder, a series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating pads on said delivery mechanism, both of said series of pads being arranged to cooperate for the purpose of flexing the gripper edge of a sheet between them and to thereby control the sheet during the period of its transfer from the cylinder grippers to the delivery grippers when the cylinder is in its nonprinting position.

7. In a sheet transfer mechanism, the combination of a sheet carrying cylinder having bodily movement from an operative position to an inoperative position and having a series of gripper fingers and cooperating pads, a constant speed chain delivery having a fixed position in which to receive sheets from said cylinder, a series of gripper fingers and cooperating pads on said delivery and organized to receive sheets from said cylinder when it is in its operative position as well as when in its inoperative position, driving means for said chain delivery, including gears, and anti-backlash means associated with said gears for maintaining said delivery gripper fingers and pads in their relative position to engage a sheet released by the cylinder gripper fingers and pads while said cylinder is in either one of said positions.

8. In a sheet transfer mechanism, the combination of a sheet carrying cylinder having bodily movement from its printing position to its non-printing position, a constant speed chain delivery mechanism having a fixed position with respect to the sheet carrying cylinder, a series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating pads on said cylinder, a series of sheet engaging gripper fingers and cooperating pads on said delivery mechanism, both of said series of gripper fingers being operative to flex the gripper edge of a sheet between them and to thereby control the sheet during its transfer from said cylinder to said delivery mechanism while said cylinder is in its printing position and spaced from the delivery mechanism, driving means for said chain delivery, including a train of gears, and anti-backlash means associated with said gears edge of the sheet has been transferred to the delivery mechanism.

10. In a sheet transfer mechanism comprising a combination of elements as set forth in claim 8, the provision of an adjustable support for guiding the trailing edge of a sheet after it leaves the sheet carrying cylinder and while being conveyed by said delivery mechanism.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELIJ.

No references cited. 

